Prop 12 Creating Trade Issues
Tim Hammerich
News Reporter
The Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of California’s Proposition 12, which bans the sale of pork in the state unless pregnant sows are housed within a minimum of 24 square feet of space. This includes pork that has been imported into California. Cam Dahl of Manitoba Pork says the ruling impacts producers outside of California, including other countries like Canada.
Dahl… “It’s a requirement in California for very specific space requirements for raising animals, including pigs, and all the pork sold in the state, to meet these requirements. So, that means that their legislation is reaching beyond the borders of California and into Canada. Manitoba, alone, ships about pigs, mostly to Iowa. Young weanling pigs, to be raised in Iowa, if they’re going into the California market, we have to comply with that California law.”
This is one of two issues that Dahl says the Canadian pork industry between the proverbial rock and hard place. The other is the USDA proposing to narrow the requirements and definition of Product of USA.
Dahl… “Right now, if you buy a ham in the U.S. that’s been processed at a U.S. packing plant, but that pig happened to be born in Canada, that can still carry the Product of USA label. What the administration is proposing is to change that, so that the requirement will be born, raised, processed, and packaged in the U.S.”
This highlights the interconnectedness of the global agricultural market.
